Drugs are a controversial topic that people, especially teenagers, face everyday. Student athletes often have a difficult time because they are required to maintain superior physical and mental condition in order to meet the demands of their sport. The pressure can be too daunting with challenging classes and an overabundant amount of homework. They then end up turning to drugs to make them feel better, or fix their problems. Recent studies show that about 50 percent of 12th graders say that they've used any illicit drug at least once in their lifetime, and over 35 percent report using marijuana in the last year. The abuse and misuse of prescription drugs are also high as of 2013. (O'Malley, Yamaguchi, Johnston). With the help of randomized …show more content…
The potential for head injuries and other injuries in competitive sports argues that athletes comprise a special, at-risk population; in which athletes on drugs are athletes who can get badly hurt, or hurt others. (Ablow) Athletes also gain respect for teammates and learn that maintaining a healthy body is crucial for participating in a sport of any kind. Also, by drug testing students, it will motivate students to quit, leaving behind the baggage that goes with consuming drugs. These include mood changes, (depending on the drug: depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychosis), and social or family problems caused or worsened by drugs. (O'Malley, Yamaguchi, Johnston) Our academics are also greatly affected by drugs. Anytime a student consumes a drug they are damaging their body and taking the chance of getting the long term effects that come with drugs. Students also perform on lower standards while under the influence of drugs. These simple, yet informative tests can prevent many problems down the road, clearing the world of sports from drugs and allowing students aim to be their …show more content…
If an athlete were taking marijuana, they would be more likely to stop if they were to realize that a parent, coach, or doctor were to find out about their drug abuse. Most of the time, the consequences for consuming drugs lead to suspension. Depending on the district, the consequences will vary. A study that was done in Portland Oregon showed that the amount of users did decrease. Also, the athletes who tested positive for any drug, received immediate counseling, and contact with his or her parents to help the student turn around the bad habits. (Moe) Random drug tests are the most effective way to test for substance abuse as students do not know when they could be tested. Athletes want to perform at their best, and do not want to let their coaches down. Even though you would think that would be enough to keep them from drinking or smoking, they still decide to, and could eventually get kicked off the team. Tests help to ensure the wellbeing of athletes and settle the worried minds of parents who suspect or know that their child is doing drugs. (Moe, Kuehl) Athletes are typically very competitive and want to perform their best no matter what. From current research, it has been found that students who partake in wrestling or weight lifting have more of a tendency to use steroids, which are just as bad if not worse than some of the other drugs out there.
Consequently, the Vernonia School District of Oregon adopted the Student Athlete Drug Policy which authorizes random urinalysis drug testing of its student athletes Substance abuse materials may include marijuana, which is cannabis that is commonly used by teens. Marijuana is a prohibited substance using a process. The shredded pieces are going to be wrapped around a sheet of paper and then it can be used as a cigarette to be smoked by the user (Mortison: p. 89). Using marijuana is considered illegal, especially for student athletes, because it creates a bad image for other individuals to consider the reputation of the school. Also, student athletes were considered role models in the school, and the district hoped that combatting an athlete’s use of drugs would influence the rest of the school.
In American high schools across the country, many people buy, sell, and use drugs. In addition, these people influence everyone around them. On these campuses, some of the people influenced by this illegal activity are sports players. One of the sports most affected is baseball. Doping in baseball is wrong because it ruins baseball's reputation, it negatively influences the athlete's health, and the drugs are bad for young people who hold up athletes as role models.
Marcovitz, Hal. How Serious a Problem Is Drug Use in Sports? San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2013. Print.
In the world we live in today, some college athletes take certain substances to boost their physical body in hopes of taking their game to the next level. These substances are labeled as PED’s. PED’s is an acronym for performance enhancing drugs which to this day are illegal for not only college athletes but professional athletes as well. An athletes’ usage of performance enhancing drugs can affect many people. For example, we know that enhancing drugs will affect the athlete using them but the usage of PED’s can also effect the athlete’s teammates as well as the coaching staff. Failing a drug test due to performance enhancing drugs can result in a loss of a full year of eligibility with the first offense (Disalvo). Failing a second time can
The use of illegal substances in sports is a trendy topic in today’s society. In the last few years a copious amount of players have been under the spotlight of substance abuse, which led to a punishment for their actions. Andrew Sullivan wrote an article in the year 2004 called “In a Drugged-up Nation, the Steroid Sports Star is King”, in which he illustrates how these “pharmaceuticals” have revolutionized sports around the world but mostly in America. These drugs have had a large influence in the overall performance of the players, even if it the use of drugs is “often denied or simply overlooked”(Sullivan 1), it will lead to a lack of judgment in what is right and what is wrong.
With television and computer so common in today’s society, more and more people spend much time at home watching sport shows. Young children grow up with their heroes being famous athletes they see on TV everyday. These young children grow up wanting to be just like the people they have watched for years on television. Becoming a great athlete is a dream of many young people and also their parents. Because steroids have seemed to make it a lot easier for people to attain the goals they have set out to accomplish, many people have turned to the drugs to gain that goal. Without thinking about the physical side effects or the mental side effects that steroids can have on them, they are willing to risk all that to become bigger, stronger, or faster just to succeed in sports whether it be in junior high, high school, college or at the professional level.
In the article, “Random Drug Testing of Athletes”, the author, Darla Tappins, argues that student athletes should not be required to participate in random drug tests. She provides six main reasons in effort to support her claim. These include the unfair stereotyping towards athletes who are no more likely to be involved in drug use than nonathletes, the unreliability and inaccuracy of the drug tests, the high costs of performing such tests, the unnecessary time consumption they require, the uncomfortability of those required to partake in them, as well as the inability of tests to detect steroid use, which is the most common drug exploited by athletes. Overall, the author does an ineffective job of proving her claim and evaluating
Abstract: Since the beginning of sports competition, athletes have always looked for some kind of edge over their competitors. They will do whatever it takes to be one of the elite, and that includes injecting supplements into their bodies to make them bigger, stronger, and faster. Steroid use is probably one of the most common drug misuses in sports competition. Athletes found that with anabolic steroids, one could become a better athlete twice as fast. Not until 1975 was the drug first banned from Olympic competition because of the health risks it produced.
In many high schools around the country, student athletes are using drugs. “The percent of students that have drunk alcohol is 72.5% while the number of students who have used marijuana is 36.8%” (Report: Nearly Half of High School Students Using Drugs, Alcohol). The students believe that since they are athletes that they do not need to abide by the rules because they feel more superior and that the narcotic will not hurt or affect them. Implementing random drug tests for athletes will create a positive image and not hurt others or themselves. Schools need to have drug tests for student athletes because drugs effect relationships, using drugs have consequences, and lastly they have a major effect on the body.
Some may say that drug testing students is unconstitutional because it is an “invasion of privacy”. This, however, is not true. . . “In 1995, the United States Supreme Court ruled that drug testing for high school athletes was constitutional, and some districts expanded their policies to include middle schools.” I believe allowing schools to drug test athletes was a very positive thing. For many reason, but mainly because athletes who are on drugs have a higher risk of being injured. For example a kid who is on drugs and plays a sporting event has a greater risk of their heart stopping on the field or court. “Drug tests analyze bodily samples such as urine, blood, or hair to detect the presence of legal and illegal drugs.” The most common one is urine testing. I believe urine testing is the best way for high school students, because it does not take as long as some other tests and it is not as costly as other tests. This is especially important because obviously a school does not want to spend money on anything they do not have to. Our school does randomly drug test students every once in a while but only a few of the athletes are chosen to take the test so that really is not helping ...
“[Thirty percent] of college and professional athletes have used or currently use steroids, as do 10-20% of high school athletes” (“Anabolic Steroids”). These numbers are alarming, but there are two main reasons why this is occuring: people tend to belief steroids will improve their appearances, and athletes believe their athletic abilities will increase. However, most are not aware of the effects steroid use has on the body. Steroid use has dramatic effects on the user’s body and mind in many different ways.
Many wonder how drugs can influence an athlete's performance in sports. Over the past few years, it has become more known and more common for athletes to use drugs to enhance their performance abilities. It has been becoming more common for athletes to overdose on drugs whether it being intentional or accidental. Many athletes who use performance enhancing drugs do not know the consequences or the damage the drugs can do to their body. Most athletes that use performance enhancing drugs are high school students. They believe that because their favorite professional athletes is using the enhancers that they are able to also. Athletes should be drug tested before every game to help reduce the use of drugs.
“A medical dictionary defines a drug as ‘any substance that when taken into the living organism may modify one or more of its functions’” (Newton 12). However, when speaking of drug testing for abuse a person is usually thinking about illegal drugs or drugs that can alter athletic performance in sporting events. Mandatory drug testing was not allowed in public schools until June 2002 when the Supreme Court allowed for public schools to do random drug testing (Carroll 23). This decision allowed for drug testing in all schools throughout the United States not just for athletes but also students who are in any activities within the school, for example clubs and competitive events (Carroll 23). Even though drug testing is now allowed by the Supreme Court many schools do not yet have mandatory drug test policies. Mandatory drug testing for high school athletes should be required because it decreases drug use in schools, is relatively inexpensive, and can prevent drug use and or abuse that can lead to a lifelong addiction.
Drug use has led to an increased number of deaths and suspensions of athletes. Also, if this continues, all athletes someday will have to choose whether to compete at a world-class level and take drugs, or compete at a club level and be clean. In sports, athletes, coaches and trainers will try their best to find a way to reach the top level. They not only search for a way to enhance performance, but most of them have aspiring Olympians to train.... ...
First, when athletes cheat, they are not pushing themselves to achieve success. Cheating also affects the culprit physically, mentally, and emotionally. Doctor Yesalis, a prominent Professor of Health at Pennsylvania State University, states, "You do not need drugs to have a sense of fulfillment, to feel that you've left it all on the field," Yesalis says. "[Drugs have] taken something that God has given us—love of game and sport—and perverted us" (par. 3). Allowing drugs in sports will not prove who is better at the sport we will just see who is the biggest drug user. This is a great integrity check for the individual because it proves who is true to their profession. This also tests their intestinal fortitude to see if they will be man or women enough to do the correct thing.